Coin controlled device



Aug. 25, 1936. A. F. LARSON COIN CONTROLLED DEVICE 2 SheetsSheet l Filed Jan. 19, 1929 kirk/641W 01 6] J .[41250/4- Aug. 25, 1936. A LARSON 2,051,952

COIN CONTROLLED DEVICE Filed Jan. 19, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 25, 1936 COIN CONTROLLED DEVICE Axel F. Larson, Chicago, Ill., assignor, by mesne assignments, to International Register Company, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Application January 19, 1929, Serial No. 333,607

29 Claims.

The present invention relates to coin controlled devices, and is particularly concerned with coin controlled devices adapted to receive a plurality of coins and to control the actuation of other 5 devices in accordance with the number of coins deposited.

The invention is peculiarly adapted to be used for controlling coin actuated pianos, phonographs, radio receiving sets and the like, but it should be noted that the device is also of general application and may be used for many other purposes.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of an improved coin controlled switch which is adapted to receive a number of coins and adapted to control other devices in accordance with the number of coins deposited, whether the coins be deposited successively or at intervals during the operation of the coin control.

Another object is the provision of an improved coin control which is adapted to be used with one or more remote controlling devices so that coin receivers can be located at a plurality of points most convenient to the user.

Another object is the provision of a more simple and economical coin control structure which is more cheaply manufactured than the complicated devices of the prior art.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved coin controlin which the coin registering mechanism is constantly moved in the same directi on,-and in which the use or consumption of a coin controlled commodity is accompanied by movement of a mechanism which follows the coin registering mechanism in the same direction, overtaking the coin registering mechanism when all of the coins have been used up, as distinguished from the prior art devices in which a coin registering mechanism is stepped forward and backward.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a coin control, including a mechanism for storing energy responsive to the number of coins deposited, and constantly moving in the same direction step by step, together with mechanism also 45 moving in the same direction for releasing said first mentioned mechanism in accordance with the use of an amusement device in such manner that further use is prevented when the secondand from the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout-the several views.

Referring to the drawings, of which there are two sheets;

Fig. 1 is an elevational view in partial cross section showing my coin controlled device, with the switch in closed position; 5

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view taken from the left in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the switch actuating cam and its follower, just before the switch is open; and

Fig. 5 is a similar view with the cam in the switch opening position.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, It! indicates my coin controlled device in its entirety, and the device generally includes a coin chute I l and a coin receptacle 1!. My coin control mechanism may be mounted on a base l3 of wood or other insulating material, and where the device is intended to be used with a pneumatic system, it will be provided with a pneumatic M for actuating the coin control at the end of each selection played, or at the end of each use of the commodity to be controlled.

The coin control in preferably includes a coin registering mechanism which may consist of the ratchet wheel i5 and its associated mechanism, and a second ratchet wheel l6 which is actuated responsive to the use of the commodity or service 30 to be controlled by the device. In order to provide means for rotatably supporting the ratchet wheels I 5 and IS on the base l3, my coin control may include a bearing plate I! and a bearing bracket 18.

The bearing plate I! comprises a strip of sheet metal provided with a plurality of apertures IQ for receiving screws and provided with a bore 2! adapted to form one of the bearings for a shaft 22. The bearing bracket 18 comprises a similar strip of metal having screw apertures 23 adapted to register with the apertures l9 when a bore 24 carried by the other end of the bearing bracket I8 is aligned with the-bore 2!. The bearing bracket I8 is bent at 25 to extend at right angles, forming an offset 26 and again bent at 21 to extend parallel to its body portion to space the bearing 24 from the bearing 2!.

The shaft 22 is rotatably mounted in the bearings 2| and 24, from which it is spaced by washers 28, and the shaft may be fixedly secured to the ratchetwheel i5 by means of a set screw 29 threaded into the hub 30 of ratchet wheel l5 and engaging shaft 22.

In order to reduce the number of diil'erent parts,

the body portions of the ratchet wheel I5 and I6 may be identical, each consisting of flat metal discs provided with a centrally located bore 3| and with a plurality of teeth 32 located along the line of a circle on the edge of the body. The teeth 32 are formed with an appropriate shoulder 33 on one side, and with an inclined surface 34 on the opposite side.

The hub 38 comprises a substantially cylindrical metal body having a bore 35 adapted to receive a shaft 22 and having an attaching flange 36 to which the ratchet wheel l5 may be secured by a plurality of screw bolts 31 passing through the ratchet wheel i5 and threaded into the flange 36.

The hub 38 may be of substantially the same form, but is elongated to provide a support for the helical coil spring 39 and the hub 38 is provided with an attaching flange 40 to which the ratchet wheel I6 is secured in the same manner by the screw bolts 4|. One of the screw bolts 4| may be utilized to secure one end of the coil spring 39 by providing a loop 42 through which the screw bolt 4| passes, to clamp the end of the spring against the ratchet wheel |6. The opposite end of the coil spring 39 may be secured to the shaft 22 by means of a sleeve 43,which may also serve as a housing for a compression spring 44. w

The sleeve 43 comprises a substantially cylindrical metal body having a bore 45 adapted to receive the shaft 22 and having a set screw 46 for securing the sleeve to the shaft 22. The sleeve 43 is provided with a counterbore 41 on the side adjacent the hub 38 for receiving the spring 44, and the sleeve 43 is also provided with a small aperture 48 through which the other end"49 of coil spring 39 may be passed and bent over to secure the coil spring to the sleeve. It should be noted that the hub 38 of ratchet wheel I6 is loosely mounted for rotation relativeto the shaft 22 and also mounted for sliding movement relative to the shaft 22 and to ratchet wheel l5.

The compression spring 44 comprisesa relatively short helical spring which is compressed between the bottom of the bore 41 in sleeve 43 and the end of hub 38 so that spring 44 is adapted to resiliently urge the ratchet wheel l6 toward ratchet wheel l5 on shaft 22.

The ratchet wheels l5 and l 6 are provided with cooperating mechanism for causing a sliding movement of the ratchet wheel l6 when these parts reach a predetermined position, and this mechanism. may consist of a cam 5.0 and a follower 5|. The cam 58 may consist of a short metal pin having one end 52 fixedly secured in the ratchet wheel l6 by pressed fit or by threads, and having the other end 53 bent over at an appropriate angle to form an inclined camming surface 54.

The follower 5| may consist of a U-shaped sheet metal stirrup 55 adapted to rotatably support a roller '56 in position to engage the camming surface 54 in such manner that when the ratchet wheels l5 and I6 reach a predetermined relative position in their rotation, the cam 58 engages roller 56 and continued relative rotation of the ratchet wheels will cause the ratchet wheel I6 in the same direction to bring the parts into the position of Fig. 4. 1

My coin control is preferably provided with a switch indicated in its entirety at 51, including a' fixed contact 58 and a movable contact 59 which may be carried by a lever 68. The fixed contact 58 may consist of a carbon block secured to the upturned end 6| of a metal connector strip 62 by means of a screw bolt 63, and the opposite end of the connector strip may be provided with a screw bolt 64 for securing conductors leading to the control circuit of an electric motor for driving a phonograph or leading to the control circuits of the piano, radio receiving set or other device to be controlled.

The connector strip is secured to the base l3 by a plurality of wood-screws 65. The switch 51 is preferably biased to closed position by a coil spring 66 having one end attached to the lever 68 and the opposite end to the base |3 by a screw 61. The lever 68 may be pivotally supported on the base l3 by a screw bolt 68 and the lever 68 carries at one end a carbon block 59 which may serve as the movable contact. The lever 68 is also electrically connected with a pigtail 69, comprising a flexible electrical conductor secured at one end to lever 68 by screw bolt 10 and secured at the opposite end by screw bolt 1| to a connector 12. Connector 12 is adapted to be used in connecting the other side of the switch 51 in the control circuit of the device to be controlled.

The base [3 also carries a right angled sheet metal bracket 13 which is adapted to pivot-ally support a bell crank 14 having one arm 15 in engagement with the upper end of lever 68 and the other arm 16 adapted to engage the side of ratchet wheel |6. Bell crank 14 may be pivotally supported on bracket 13 by a screw bolt 11 with a spacing sleeve 18, and in order to provide a flat surface for attachment of a screw bolt 19, the arm 16 may be twisted through an angle of as at 88. The extreme end of the arm 16 carries a screw bolt 8| with a lock nut 82 and the end of the screw bolt 8| may carry a wooden or fiber block 83 adapted to slidably engage the side of ratchet wheel |6.

The set screw 8! is so adjusted that when the parts are in the position of Fig. 3 or 4, the switch 51 is closed by the spring 66, but when the cam '53 and follower .56 reach the position of Fig. 5, the ratchet wheel-l6 slides upward in Fig. 3 rotating bell crank 14 counter-clockwise in Fig. 3, and rotating switch lever 68 clockwise in Fig. 1. g

The pneumatic l4 may consist of any conventional form of pneumatic device, but the embodiment illustrated includes a foldable bellows 84 secured to a fixed base 85 and to a movable wall 86. A conduit 81 extends into the bellows through the base 85 and a spring 88 has its ends 89 and 98 secured to base 85 and to movable wall 86 to bias the pneumatic to expanded position.

The base 85 may be secured to base l3 by a bracket 9| which may also carry a leaf spring 92 having a downwardly bent end 93 serving as a pawl, engaging ratchet wheel l6 and preventing retrograde movement of this ratchet wheel. The movable wall 86 of the pneumatic l4 pivotally supports a pawl 94 for resilient engagement with the teeth 32 on ratchet wheel |6.

The pawl 94 may consist of a strip of sheet metal having one end 95 bent inward for better engagement with the teeth 32 and having its opposite end bent at right angles at 96 to engage the upper side of the pneumatic wall 86. The

end 91 is provided with an enlarged aperture 90 adapted to receive a screw 99 for loosely supporting the pawl 94 and a coil spring I between the head of screw 99 and the pawl 94 resiliently urges the pawl against the side of the pneumatic. The extreme upper end of the pawl 94 is bent upward at IOI at a slight angle and provided with a forked end or enlarged aperture for receiving the pin I02, which prevents rotation of the pawl on the screw 99 but permits the pawl to pivot in the plane of the drawing on Fig. 1.

The pneumatic may also be provided with a stop screw I02 carried by the fixed wall 85 of the pneumatic and extending into the pneumatic for engagement with the movable wall 86 so that the range of movement of the pneumatic I4 and pawl 94 may be adjusted by means of the stop screw I02, the movement being generally limited to that required to step ratchet wheel I6 forward a distance represented by one tooth.

The ratchet wheel I is adapted to be actuated by force transmitted from the ratchet wheel I6 through the spring 39 and the ratchet wheel I5 is therefore provided with an escapement device I03 adapted to be actuated by the deposit of a coin in the chute II. Escapement device I03 may consist of a lever pivotally mounted on base I3 adjacent the periphery of ratchet wheel I5 by means of a bracket I04 and screw bolt I05. Bracket I04 has an offset I06 to bring the lever I03 into the same plane as ratchet wheel I5 and is secured upon base I3 by a plurality of screws I01.

The escapement device I 03 may consist of a flat strip of metal provided with teeth I08 and I09 projecting from one edge and adapted to engage the teeth 32 on the ratchet wheel I5. The teeth I08 and I09 form transverse shoulders I I0 and II I which are spaced a greater distance than the distance between a plurality of teeth on ratchet I5 so that at least one of the teeth I08 or I09 will engage the ratchet wheel and each pivotal movement of the escapement device I03 will permit the ratchet wheel to move forward a distance rep-resented by one tooth.

The escapement device may be provided with adjustable stops in the form of slotted wooden blocks H2 and H3 secured by screws H4, and a spring I22 secured to lever I03 and to the base I3, biases lever I03 in a counter-clockwise direction. The end of lever I03 is disposed adjacent the discharge end of coin chute I I, and in order to provide a wider surface for engagement by the coins 5, the lever I03 may be twisted through substantially 90 at II 6 having its extreme end bent downward at II1 to form a camming surface to be engaged by coins H5. The length of the end II1 relative to the chute II is such that a coin I I5 will strike the end H1 and pivot lever I03 downward, after which the coin may pass freely into coin receptacle I2.

The escapement device may also be provided with a downwardly projecting shoulder 8 adapted to be engaged by the armature II 9 of an electromagnet I20 of any convention-a1 form. It will thus be observed that escapement device I03 may be actuated either by the deposit of a coin in chute II or by deposit of coins in remote control coil boxes having a switch in the circuit of electromagnet I20. The electromag net circuit is broken at contact I2I when the armature H9 is actuated so that only a single impulse will be given to armature I I9.

The operation of my coin control is as follows: I

When a coin of the proper size is dropped in the chute II, the coin engages the end II1 of escapement device I03, moving tooth I08 out of engagement with the teeth of ratchet wheel I5 and movingtooth I09 into engagement with the ratchet wheel I5. This permits the ratchet wheel to step forward a part of one step and when the coin'II5 haspassed the end II1, the spring I22 rotates lever I 03 back to the position of Fig. 1, permitting ratchet wheel I5 to complete one step of rotative movement. This movement of ratchet wheel'II5 is caused by spring 39 which is always under some tension and which has sufficient tension to turn ratchet wheel I5 through a complete revolution.

, It will thus be observed that each time a coin H5 is deposited in chute II, the ratchet wheel I5 is moved around one step and the ratchet wheel I5 provides a registering mechanism responsive to the number of coins deposited.

When no coins have been deposited, the cam and follower of ratchet wheels I 6 and I5, respectively, are in the position shown in Fig. 5, but

as soonas one or more coins are deposited the ratchet wheel I5 steps forward to the position of Fig. 4 or any position farther advanced so that ratchet wheel I6 slides toward ratchet wheel I5, permitting bell crank 14 to move clockwise in Fig. 3, and permitting spring 66 to close switch 51. The deposit of a single coin will then start the operation of the device controlled by my coin controlled device, and the deposit of more coins will be registered by means of the ratchet I5.

At the end of each selection played by the phonograph or automatic piano, the pneumatic I4 is adapted to be actuated once. Where the ordinary tracker bar and paper roll are employed this may be accomplished by an aperture in the roll coming over the conduit to permit the flow of air to a device controlling the pneumatic I4.

The control of the pneumatic I4 or equivalent electromagnetic devices is well known to those skilled in the art and need not be described in detail. It is sufficient to say, therefore, that at the end of each selection played by the instrument, the pneumatic I4 is actuated downward once and the pawl 94 will cause ratchet wheel IE to rotate clockwise in Fig. 1, a single step, placing further tension on the spring 39. Reverse movement of the ratchet wheel I6 is prevented by pawl 92.

If only a single coin has been deposited, the ratchet wheel IS with its cam 50 will overtake ratchet wheel I5 and the cam 53 will move the ratchet wheel I6 axially on the shaft 22 to open the switch 51. If a plurality of coins have been deposited, a corresponding number of selections will be played and the ratchet wheel I6 stepped forward one step for each selection until the parts reach the position of Fig. 5, and switch is opened.

It will thus be observed that I have provided a coin controlled device including a coin registering mechanism and means actuated by the playing of each selection on an instrument controlled by my device, for stepping forward a second mechanism to overtake the coin controlled mechanism. My coin controlled device will receive any number of coins up to the number of teeth on the ratchet wheel and control the playing of the instrument in accordance with the number of coins deposited.

The device of the present invention is very simple in its construction and positive in its operation, and includes a new combination of ele-' ments operating in a substantially different way from the devices of the prior art.

Where a complete electrical system is desired.

my invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a coin control, thecombination of means actuated responsive to the deposit of one or more coins, with means moving step by step in the same direction as said first mentioned means, a coin controlled device, said latter means being actuated responsive tothe movement ofsaid coin controlled device and a switch engaged by said first mentioned means and adapted to be opened when said second mentioned means overtakes said first mentioned means.

2. In a coin control, thecombination of a support with a pair of ratchet wheels rotatably mounted on said support, a pneumatic for actuating the first of said ratchet wheels, a resilient connection between said ratchet wheels, an electric switch actuated by one of said ratchet wheels when said ratchet wheels reach a predetermined position with respect to each other and a coin actuated device for releasing the other of said ratchet wheels to follow the first ratchet wheel.

3. In a coin control, the combination of a support with a pair of ratchet wheels rotatably mounted on said support, a pneumatic for actuating the first of said ratchet wheels, a resilient connection between said ratchet wheels, a coin actuated device for releasing the other of said ratchet ,wheels to follow the first ratchet wheel, one of said ratchet wheels being slidably mounted, engaging members carried by said wheels for sliding one of said wheels laterally when a predetermined relative position is reached, and a switch member actuated by one of said wheels.

4. In a coin control, the combination of a support with bearings carried thereby, a shaft mounted in said bearings, a first ratchet wheel rotatably and slidably mounted on said shaft, a second ratchet wheel secured to turn with said shaft, a coil spring secured to said shaft and said first ratchet wheel, means for actuating said first ratchet wheel, and means for releasing said second ratchet wheel responsive to the deposit of coins, and a switch actuated by sliding movement of said first wheel when said wheels reach a predetermined relative position.

5. In a coin control, the combination of a support with bearings carried thereby, a shaft mounted in said bearings, a first ratchet wheel rotatably and slidably mounted on said shaft, a second ratchet wheel secured to turn with said shaft, a coil spring secured to said shaft and said first ratchet wheel, means for actuating said first ratchet wheel, and means for releasing said second ratchet wheel responsive to the deposit of coins, a switch biased to closed position, and operative connections between said switch and said first ratchet wheel to open said switch when said second ratchet wheel overtakes said first ratchet wheel.

6. In a coin control, the combination of a support with bearings carried thereby, a shaft mounted in said bearings, a first ratchet wheel rotatably and slidably mounted on said shaft, a

second ratchet wheel secured to turn with said. shaft, a coil spring secured to said shaft and said first ratchet whee1, a coin actuated escapement pawl for one of said wheels, means for actuating said first ratchet wheel, a cam carriedby one of said ratchet wheels, a roller carried by the other ratchet wheel, whereby said first ratchet wheel is slid on said shaft when said cam and roller engage, and a switch actuated by the sliding movement of said first wheel.

7. In a coin control, the combination of a support with bearings carried thereby, a shaft mounted in said bearings, a first ratchet wheel rotatably and slidably mounted on said shaft; a second ratchet wheel secured to turn with said shaft, a coil spring secured to said shaft and said first ratchet wheel, a coin actuated escapement pawl for one of said wheels, means for actuating said first ratchet wheel, a cam carried by one of said ratchet wheels, a roller carried byv the other ratchet wheel, whereby said first ratchet wheel is slid on said shaft when said cam and roller engage, a switch actuated by the sliding movement of said first wheel, and a spring for biasing said wheels toward each other.

8. In a coin control, the combination of a support with bearings carried thereby, -a shaft mounted in said bearings, a first ratchet wheel rotatably and slidably mounted on said shaft, a second ratchet wheel secured to turn with said shaft, a coil spring secured to said shaft and said first ratchet wheel, means for actuating said first ratchet wheel, a cam carried by one of said ratchet wheels; a roller carried by the other ratchet wheel, whereby said first ratchet wheel is slid on said shaft when said cam and roller engage, a switch actuated by the sliding movement of said first wheel, a spring for biasing said wheels toward each other, and an electromagnet for controlling said second ratchet wheel.

9. In a control mechanism the combination of a coin controlled means with a pair of members each of which takes step by step movements in one direction only, means for actuating said members and a switch actuated by and having its position determined by the relative positions of said members.

, 10. In a control mechanism a coin controlled means, a pair of juxtaposed members each of which takes step by step movements in one direction only, means for actuating said members the movements of said members being in and h ving its position determined by the relative p Sitions of said members.

11. In a coin control a pair of rotatable members, means for actuating said members, coin actuated means for controlling step by step actuation of one of said members, means for effecting step by step actuation of the other member in the same direction, a switch controlled by said rotatable members, an operative mechanism connecting said switch to one of said members, said switch occupying one position when the actuations of said members have been equal in number and occupying a different position when the actuations of said members have been unequal in number.

the same direction, and a switch actuated by 12. In a coin control mechanism, the combination of a coin controlled means with a pair of members each of which takes step by step movements in one direction only, means for actuating said members, an instrumentality whose position is determined by the relative positions of said members, and means for placing said instrumentality in one position when the step by step actuations of said members have been equal in number and for placing said instrumentality in a diiierent position when the actuations of said members have been unequal in number. 13. A coin controlled device comprising a coin controlled releasing device, a controlling switch for an electrical device, a rotatable switch controlling member, means for actuating said member, a second rotatable member controlled by said releasing device, and spring connecting said members whereby said members may. be actuated simultaneously or independently.

14. A coin controlled device, comprising a coin controlled releasing device, a pneumatically controlled use controlling member, a releasable coin, controlled member, an electric switch actuated by said coin controlled member and a resilient connection between said members, whereby the former member is adapted to actuate the latter member.

15. A coin controlled device, comprising a coin controlled releasing device, a pneumatically controlled use controlling member, a releasable coin controlled member, a resilient connection between said members, whereby the' former member is adapted to actuate the latter member, said members being adapted .to move in the same direction, an electric switch and means actuated by relative axial movement between said members to control the operation of a switch.

16. In a control mechanism, the combination of a coin control means with a first ratchet wheel controlled by said means, a second ratchet wheel adapted to rotate in the same direction as said first ratchet wheel, said second ratchet wheel being controlled by a mechanism adapted to operate responsive to the placing of one or more coins upon said coin control means, means for actuating said wheels, and a switch adapted to be opened when said ratchet wheels reach a predetermined position with respect to each other and adapted to be closed when said ratchet-wheels reach a second position with respect to each other.

17. In a control mechanism, thecombination of a coin control means with a first ratchet wheel controlled by said means, a second ratchet wheel adapted to rotate in the same direction as said first ratchet wheel, said second ratchet wheel being controlled by a mechanism adapted to operate responsive to the placing of one or more coins upon said coin control means, means for actuating said wheels, a switch adapted to be opened when said ratchet wheels reach a predetermined position with respect to each other and adapted to be closed when said ratchet-wheels reach a second position with respect to each other, one of said ratchet wheels preceding the other of said ratchet wheels in its rotation, and a spring connection between said ratchet wheels whereby the preceding ratchet wheel actuates the other ratchet wheel through said spring.

18. In a control mechanism, the combination of a coin control means with a first ratchet wheel controlled by said means, a second ratchet wheel adapted to rotate in the same direction as said first ratchet wheel, said second ratchet wheel being controlled by a mechanism adapted to operate responsive to the placing of one or more coins, means for actuating said wheels, a switch adapted to be opened when said ratchet wheels reach a predetermined position with respect to each other, means for closing said switch, one of said ratchet wheels preceding the other of said ratchet wheels in its rotation, a spring connection between said ratchet wheels whereby the preceding ratchet wheel actuates the other ratchet wheel through said spring, and one of said ratchet wheels being mounted for reciprocation, and camming means adapted to be actuated when said ratchet wheels reach said predetermined position for actuating said switch.

19. In a coin controlled device, the combination of a pawl adapted to be actuated by a coin, with a ratchet wheel adapted to be released for stepped rotation by said pawl, a second ratchet wheel, a resilient connection between said ratchet wheels, means for actuating said second ratchet wheel to move said first mentioned ratchet Wheel through said resilient connection, and an electric switch actuated in one direction by one of said ratchet wheels when the first mentioned ratchet wheel reaches a predetermined position with respect to the second ratchet wheel, and means for actuating said switch in a second direction.

20. In a coin controlled device, the combination of a pair of ratchet wheels, said ratchet wheels being mounted for rotation and reciprocation with respect to each other, resilient means connecting said ratchet wheels, whereby one of said ratchet wheels follows the other, a bellows for actuating one of said ratchet wheels, 2. switch actuated by one of said wheels and a coin controlled pawl for releasing the other of said ratchet wheels, whereby said device is adapted to exert a control upon a controlled mechanism responsive to the number of coins engaging said coin controlled pawl.

21. In a coin controlled device, the combination of a pair of rotatable ratchet wheels with means for actuating said ratchet wheels in the same direction by a step by step movement com prising a coin actuated controlling pawl for the first ratchet wheel and a controlling pawl for the second ratchet wheel, and an electric switch adapted to be actuated in one direction by one of said ratchet wheels when said ratchet wheels reach a predetermined relative position, and means for actuating said switch in a second direction.

22. In a coin controlled device, the combination of a pair of rotatable ratchet wheels with means for actuating said ratchet wheels in the same direction by a step by step movement comprising a coin actuated controlling pawl for the first ratchet wheel and a controlling pawl for the second ratchet wheel, an electric switch adapted to be actuated in one direction by one of said ratchet wheels when said ratchet wheels reach a predetermined relative position, one of said ratchet wheels being adapted to move axially to actuate said switch, a cam between said ratchet wheels for moving said ratchet wheels relative to each other when they reach said predetermined relative position, and means for actuating said switch in a second direction.

23. In a coin controlled device, a controlling mechanism comprising the combination of the coin controlled device with a pair of rotatable members, said members. rotating in the same direction, means for rotating said members, an electric switch, one of said rotatable members being rotated responsive to the placing of a coin and. the other of said rotatable members being rotated responsive to the use oi. the device. to be controlled by said mechanism, and means for opening and closing said switch, said means including operative mechanical connections between said rotatable members and said switch whereby said switch is actuated when one rotatable member over takes the other rotatable member.

24. In a coin controlled device the combination ot'a coin controlled pawl with a pair of rotatable members adapted to rotate in the same direction, one of said rotatable members comprising a ratchet wheel controlled by said pawl and adapted to be rotated responsive to the placing of a coin, means for rotating the other member, resilient means engaged by the other rotatable member and adapted to actuate the first rotatable member when released by said pawl, an electrical switch and operative mechanical connections between said rotatable members and said switch whereby said switch is actuated when said rotatable members reach a predetermined relative position with respect to each other.

25. In a coin controlled device, the combination of a coin controlled ratchet wheel with a coin controlled pawl for releasing said ratchet wheel, a rotatable member adapted to rotate in the same direction as said ratchet wheel, a spring surrounding the common shaft of said ratchet wheel and rotatable member and having one end in operative relation to said ratchet wheel and the other end in operative relation to said rotatable member whereby said ratchet wheel is actuated by said spring, driving means for said rotatable member, an electric switch, and mechanism connecting said switch and said coin controlled device whereby said switch is moved to open position when said rotatable member overtakes said ratchet wheel.

26. In a coin control, the combination of a coin chute with a first step by step mechanism adapted to be moved a step in a certain direction by the insertion of a coin in said chute, a coin controlled device, means operable by said step-by-step mechanism for controlling said device, a second step by step mechanism adapted to be moved a step in the same direction by a single use of said coin controlled device, means for actuating said 27. In a coin controlled device, the combination of an electric switch with a controlling mecha nism for said switch, comprising a timing device adapted to operate for a predetermined period or time, a pair of rotatable members, said members rotating in the same direction, means for rotating one of said members controlled by said timing device, the other of said members being rotated responsive to the placing of a coin, and means for closing said switch when one of said rotatable members advances ahead of the other and for opening said switch when the said other rotatable member overtakes the Q advanced rotatable member. J

28. In combination, an electric switch, a movable leadingelement, coin controlled mechanism for advancing said element a predetermined distance in one direction for each coin inserted, said mechanism being adapted for reception of a plurality of coins inserted one immediately after the other with corresponding advancement of said element, a movable following element, means under the control of said electric switch for advancing said following element in the same direction as said leading element, means for opening said switch when said following element overtakes said leading element, and means for closing said switch upon the insertion of a coin.

29. In a coin control, the combination of a coin chute, a first mechanism, means for rotating said mechanism a predetermined distance in one di- 

